Sharh Kitab al-Farq Bayn Ibadat Ahl al-Islam wal-Iman wa Ibadat Ahl al-Shirk wal-Nifaq li Ibn Taymiyya - Muhammad Hasan Abd al-Ghaffar
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- Sharh Kitab al-Farq Bayn Ibadat Ahl al-Islam wal-Iman wa Ibadat Ahl al-Shirk wal-Nifaq li Ibn Taymiyya - Muhammad Hasan Abd al-Ghaffar
Sharh Kitab al-Farq Bayn Ibadat Ahl al-Islam wal-Iman wa Ibadat Ahl al-Shirk wal-Nifaq li Ibn Taymiyya (Explanation of the Book on the Distinction Between the Acts of Worship of the People of Islam and Faith and the Acts of Worship of the People of Polytheism and Hypocrisy by Ibn Taymiyya) is a contemporary theological commentary by Muhammad Hasan Abd al-Ghaffar on the creedal treatise authored by Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) .
Background and Base Text
The original text expounded in the work is Ibn Taymiyya's treatise entitled Qaʿida Azima fi al-Farq Bayn Ibadat Ahl al-Islam wal-Iman wa Ibadat Ahl al-Shirk wal-Nifaq . In the introductory portion of the commentary, Abd al-Ghaffar presents biographical details regarding Ibn Taymiyya, noting his birth in Harran and his scholarly standing across diverse fields of Islamic learning, including jurisprudence, hadith, creed, and linguistics . He also highlights that the core subjects of Ibn Taymiyya's treatise were connected to matters he addressed upon arriving in Egypt, such as clarifying permissible and prohibited forms of intercession (tawassul), refuting vows and swearing by other than God, and addressing journeys undertaken specifically to visit tombs (shadd al-rihal ila al-qubur) .
Content and Themes
The commentary focuses on establishing the principal rule governing acts of devotion: any act substantiated by Islamic law (sharʿ) as an act of worship (ibada) is monotheism (tawhid) when directed solely to God, whereas directing it to anyone other than God constitutes polytheism (shirk), with circumambulation (tawaf) cited as a prime example . The text explores the boundaries of worship, distinguishing between authentic devotion adhering to the prophetic model and innovative or idolatrous practices .
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